Play pen construction



May 31, 1949. E. E. MERRETT PLAY PEN CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 7, 1945 R m m W Patented May 31, 1949 UNITED STATES J ATENT OFFICE PLAY PEN CONSTRUCTION Application December 7, 1945, Serial No. 633,501

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in play crib or play yard constructions and particularly relates to a play device adapted to be mounted on the play yard bars.

One of the primary objects of the present invention is to provide a play device which may be slidably mounted to the bars of a play pen so that it may be positioned at different vertical heights and so that it may be conveniently used by the infant.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simplified play device which may be conveniently mounted on conventional play yards and which is economical to manufacture.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following specification, the drawing relating thereto and from the claims hereinafter set forth.

In the drawing in which like numerals are used to designate like parts in the several views throughout:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a play yard having a play device mounted thereon according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevational View of the play device of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional View and top plan View taken substantially along the line 33 of Fig. l;

-Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional View taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing a play pen is illustrated and while such play pen may be of the usual or conventional construction, it is preferably of the type disclosed in the Merrett et al. Patent No. 2,224,310 patented December 10, 1940. The play pen includes a pair of relatively rigid opposite side members I and a pair of oppositely disposed intervening collapsible or foldable side members 2. Each side member includes upper and lower rails interconnected by a plurality of vertical, horizontally spaced bars 3. Pivoted floorboards 4 and 5 are pivotally attached to the adjacent bottom rails of members i so that they may be pivoted to an upper position when the play pen is folded.

According to the present invention a play device generally indicated at 6 is provided which is so constructed that it may be readily attached to the spaced bars 3 for sliding movement therealong. The device 6 comprises a rectangular frame having a pair of opposite side members i and 8 which interconnect another pair of opposite side members 9 and II). Play devices are mounted within the frame members and preferably comprise parallel rods II the ends of which are received in openings in the frame members i and 8 at the plane of frame members 9 and ill. Movable and colored objects such as balls I3 are mounted on the bars I l and serve for amusing and instructing the infant.

The frame members I and 8 project beyond one of the sides of frame members 9 and Ill, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and longitudinally extending grooves M are formed in the facing portions of members 1 and 8. Curved slots I5 and it are provided in members 7 and 8 communicating with a groove I4 and the ends of flat leaf springs I! are disposed within grooves and Hi.

The frame is preferably mounted on the inside of one, or both, of the sides I with the spaced bars 3 received within grooves I4. The flat springs 11 resiliently engage the adjacent sides of the bars 3 so that the frame is resiliently held in one position but may be easily slid to other positions.

The frame members may be formed all or part of wood or metal or a combination of both. However, they are preferably formed of wood.

Formal changes may be made in the specific embodiment of the invention described without departing from the spirit of the invention the scope of which is commensurate with the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

i. In a childs play pen, in combination, a side member including upper and lower rails and a plurality of spaced vertical bars, a play device slidably mounted on a pair of said bars, said play device comprising a rectangular frame having a first pair of spaced vertical side frame members interconnecting a second pair of spaced horizon tal side frame members, a portion of each of said first side members projecting at an angle to and beyond one of the faces of each of said second side members, inwardly opening longitudinally extending grooves formed in the projecting portions of said first pair of side members and slidably receiving said pair of bars to permit said play device to move vertically with respect thereto, and fiat springs extending transversely through said grooves with their opposite ends fixed in said side members and with the intermediate portions resiliently engaging said bars to support said device in an adjusted position thereon.

2. In a childs play pen, in combination, a side member including upper and lower rails and a plurality of spaced vertically extending semispherical sectioned bars, a play device slidably mounted on a pair of said bars, said play device comprising a rectangular frame having a first pair of spaced vertical side frame members interconnecting a second pair of spaced horizontal side frame members, a portion of each of said first side members projecting at an angle to and beyond one of the faces of each of said second side members, inwardly opening longitudinally extending grooves formed in the projecting portions of said first side member and slidably receiving said pair of bars therein, an arcuate shoulder defining the outer face of each of said longitudinally extending grooves abutting a portion of the semi-spherical surface of each of said bars and being curved in an opposite direction with respect thereto to permit smooth sliding movement between said play device and said bars, and flat springs extending through said grooves with one end of each fixed within said arcuate shoulder and the opposite end fixed in; theportion of the side members on the opposite. side of said grooves, the intermediate portions of said springs resiliently engaging said bars to support said device in adjusted position thereon.

3. A play device adapted to be slidably mounted on the bars of an infants crib or play yard, comprising a rectangular frame having a first pair of spaced side frame members interconnecting a second pair of spaced side frame members, a portion of each of said first side members projecting at an angle to and beyond one of the faces of each of said second side members, inwardly opening longitudinally extending grooves formed in the projecting portions of said first pair of side members, arcuate shoulders defining one side face of each of said longitudinally extending grooves, and flat springs extending transversely through each of said grooves with their opposite ends fixed in said side members and with their intermediate portions bowed inwardly and facing each other for frictional engagement with said play pen bars.

EARLE E. MERRETT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,532,011 Williamson Mar. 31, 1925 2,224,310 Merrett et al. Dec. 10, 1940 

